Coastal Conservation Association On Toxic Runoff From Wildfires And Effect On Marine Resources

The following press release is courtesy of the Coastal Conservation Association of California:

Forest Service photos by Taskforce 1600 SHF Capt 343 Victor Guillen

Toxic Runoff from California Fires Underscores the Flaws in the State’s Approach to Marine Resource Conservation

As state agencies fixate on restricting angling access with marine protected areas, CCA Cal believes that they have bypassed the most serious issue affecting coastal biodiversity—ocean water quality.

California agencies charged with conserving and protecting the state’s marine resources have long fixated on the wrong target, while bypassing a far-more serious threat, according to Chris Arechaederra, newly appointed executive director for the Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL).

In this case, the wrong target is sustainable and highly regulated recreational fishing, which the California Fish and Game Commission and the state’s Ocean Protection Council are currently seeking to curtail even further, according to Arechaederra. “These agencies are pursuing ever-greater angling restrictions in the form of expanded no-take marine protected areas and other restrictions in the erroneous belief that recreational fishermen represent a threat to the environment in general and biodiversity in particular,” he explains. “At the same time, these agencies have raced past the most serious issue impacting biodiversity—poor ocean water quality.”

The recent fires that devastated Pacific Palisades and Malibu underscore the flaws in the state’s view that restricting access with marine protected areas will serve as a panacea for all that ails California’s marine resources.

With winter and spring rains in the offing, run-off from these massive fires will result in a toxic soup that will pour unabated into the ocean. The blaze consumed thousands of buildings and countless vehicles, and no one knows precisely what types or quantities of toxins will permeate the ocean, Arechaederra points out. But it will be bad.

As currents carry the poisons up and down the coast, the runoff will devastate flora and fauna along the entire Southern California bight, including ecosystems within marine protected areas. These areas cannot protect marine life from toxic pollution, and therein lies the flaw in the state’s approach, CCA CAL’s executive director says.

Rather than fixating on angling restrictions, agencies like the Fish and Game Commission and Ocean Protection Council would better serve their responsibilities by focusing on ocean water-quality issues, he believes. These fires are only one example. There are many others, including sewage runoff at Imperial Beach, California, near the US/Mexico border and Tijuana, Mexico, has been fouling coastal waters and nearby state marine protected areas for years.

“These agencies may claim lack of jurisdiction when it comes to water quality, but that would be a cop out, because they have the ability – both publicly and privately – to reach out to their sister agencies.” Arechaederra explains. “They should have acted years ago to mitigate the real threat to marine resources by working in cooperation with other state agencies such as Cal EPA and others to curtail urban and agricultural runoff and pollution of all types that pose the biggest threat to marine biodiversity.” 

It’s not too late, Arechaederra believes. “Recreational fishermen are deeply concerned for our ocean waters, especially now as pollution from such a disaster threatens marine habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity,” he says. “CCA CAL is urging all agencies and departments to start protecting our precious resources now, before rain, flooding and landslides inflict irreparable damage to our ocean.”

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ABOUT CCA CAL: The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) was created in 2015 when recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts came together to work for the conservation and enhancement of marine resources and coastal environments. Today, CCA CAL is working to protect not only the health, habitat, and sustainability of marine resources, but also the interests of saltwater anglers. CCA CAL’s goal is to protect access to the marine resources that sportfishermen cherish and enjoy every day. CCA CAL is a non-profit organization of members from all walks of life and economic strata, including anglers who fish from shore, pier, private-boat, kayak and commercial passenger fishing vessels (CPFVs), as well as spearfishermen.